Jackie Robinson Glove Auction Hits $310K In First Hours‏

High Bid Already At $310,835 On Authentic Game-Worn Glove Used By The Immortal Jackie Robinson At Steiner Sports (http://auction.steinersports.com) “Ground-Breaking Auction”; Continues Through June 2

***Only Known Rawlings From 1955-56 Seasons Authenticated by Dennis Esken***

New York, Wednesday, May 1, 2013—Let the bidding war begin! In the first four hours of the Steiner Sports Memorabilia “Ground Breaking Auction,” the high bid is already at $310,835 on one of the most historic artifacts from the career of the immortal Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson – a newly-discovered, authentic game-worn baseball glove used during both the 1955 and ’56 World Series (his final season).

There have been three bids thus far, and the high bid has already exceeded the $300,000 reserve on the artifact.

For more information contact Steiner Sports at 914-307-1000.

“We are extremely happy but in no way surprised,” said Steiner Sports executive vice president Brett Schissler. “You are talking about one of the most influential figures in our country and one of the rarest collectibles in the world today. The bidding on all items in the Ground breaking Auction out of the gate has been spirited and ferocious.”

The glove was authenticated by Dennis Esken, who is renowned in the industry. He said: “This rare gem is the only Jackie Robinson glove known to exist. It was discovered in NYC tucked away in a garage, wrapped in plastic.”

Esken added: “The glove shows extensive wear and aging on the leather attributed to three years of use. The photo match and the ability to see the Rawlings labels aided me in getting the exact date of the glove. One of the highlights in this BD model glove is Jackie’s iconic jersey number ’42’ written in black felt tip on the intact wrist strap also, signifying that this glove belonged to him as proven by the ’42’ pictured in the photo match.”

Accompanying the game-used glove is another vintage item: a Louisville Slugger Jackie Robinson Professional Model Bat, believed to be from the 1956 season. The bat is authenticated by John Taube and Vince Malta from PSA/DNA and is graded a GU 9. A letter of authenticity states the bat matches records of Robinson’s Louisville Slugger orders and even carries streaks of paint from the bat rack in the Dodger dugout at Ebbets Field.

Yankee Hall of Fame legend Mickey Mantle‘s original signed contract for the 1960 season (with proceeds donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund by Danny and David Mantle) is in the auction.

The auction also includes the 1939 Yankees World Championship Ring of Weiss, the prolific baseball executive whose Bronx Bombers teams won 10 pennants and seven World Series Championships, including five straight. One of the most successful baseball executives in history, Weiss was the Yankees GM from 1947-60. He was known for developing the Yankees fertile farm system, producing such players as Mantle, Phil Rizzuto and Joe DiMaggio. He was also the first president of the Mets. He was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971. Here is George Weiss’s 1938 World Series Champions Ring. This ring is gold with a single diamond on the center. Around the diamond it reads New York Yankees World Champions. On both sides of the ring an Eagle is depicted and it reads New York 1938.

A 1929 New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball is in the auction, with clear signatures of such greats as Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Tony Lazzeri, Lou Gehrig, Leo Durocher, Miller Huggins, and Jacob Ruppert.